WormWatcher Tip of the Week: Cool observations!

WormWatchers,

Just a reminder to keep the food buried as folks add their food garbage to avoid “undesired” critters. I love adding several inches of shredded newspaper. Soil/compost manure works too if you have some around.

When composting really starts in the WormWatcher, it is fascinating and a bit nasty looking (to me at least). This “ugly” stage passes quickly, so have faith. Instead, perhaps this time capture your scientific spirit! Here’s some ideas:

· Test the pH of food and soil before, during and after composting. Does acid food make the soil more acidic? Does basic food make the soil less? Note trends and changes.

· Measure the temperature in different areas of the composter. Is the soil warmer in areas of decomposition/worms eating? (Note decomposition is similar to cellular respiration in organisms and energy is released.)

· Observe the movement of the worms (very fun to note during these snowy and stormy days!!). Why do they move out of the soil at times? Are they responding to moisture? humidity? Ionics in the air? wind, barometric pressure? Let me know what you infer!

Check out what other WormWatchers are saying about their wormwatching experience on my website. Also I will be posting more grant information later this week!

WormWatcher Tip of the Week: Fiber

Like us, worms like and need fiber. By fiber, I mean newspaper.  You can substitute cardboard or white paper, but it breaks down more slowly. The carbon/cellulose in the paper is an energy source for the worms.   If the paper has disappeared, it's time to add some new fiber to help aerate the soil, absorb extra moisture, and provide nutrition. Paper shredders make this so easy! I do suggest 1-2 inches of shredded paper on top for extra food coverage.  As you recycle your paper, you will be creating a playground for the mating worms.  Remember healthy composting should be odorless.  Add more fiber if you detect any smell. Sometimes when I leave food on the surface, there can be an odor - but the odor immediately vanishes once you bury the food with soil and/or paper.

Happy composting! Love to hear about your composting experience.

WormWatching Tip of the Week: Moisture

Worms need moisture to breathe through their skin.   Worms are made of approximately 70% water, and they like their environment to be moist too.  The moisture in your bin will depend on what food you feed it.    To check the moisture, squeeze the soil and you should one to five drops of water drip from your soil clump.  If the  soil is too wet/mucky or there is a smell, add shredded paper.

(FYI, we also use and sell moisture probes if you don’t want to get your hands dirty.)

Worms do not like lots of water. If it’s very humid out or your bin is very wet, you will see them on the lid, up the sides and down in the well.  We are having lots of fun watching how they respond to NorEasters and huge storms – they crawl out of the soil as if they are anticipating lots of rain. Don’t panic, they will not escape the WormWatcher, even in dome top/greenhouse model.   If there is food present, they won’t want to migrate.

EXPERIMENT IDEA:  Could they be weather indicators??

Other Fun Field Observations from WormWatchers This Week: 
Potato buds are sprouting (unintentionally!)
Cranberries aren’t breaking down.
Worms are loving pumpkins – especially rotting ones.
Only the green outer skin was left from a watermelon.

Maintenance Tip:  Use moist newspaper that is machine shredded on top!  It helps keep the moisture higher in the bin.  Mix it with your soil when more fiber and air is needed.